Psalm 56:1
New International Version
For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack.

New Living Translation
O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long.

English Standard Version
Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me;

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.

King James Bible
To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me.

New American Standard Bible
For the music director; according to Jonath elem rehokim. A Mikhtam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, God, for a man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me.

NASB 1995
For the choir director; according to Jonath elem rehokim. A Mikhtam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me.

NASB 1977
Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. According to Jonath Elem Rehokim. A Mikhtam of David. When the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; All day long, an attacker oppresses me.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “Silent Dove Among Those Far Away.” A Mikhtam of David. [A record of memorable thoughts] when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled on me; All day long the adversary oppresses and torments me.

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A Miktam of David. When the Philistines seized him in Gath. † Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me; he fights and oppresses me all day long.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A Davidic Miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, God, for man tramples me; he fights and oppresses me all day long.

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Show mercy upon me, God, because man has trodden upon me, and all day the warrior has persecuted me, because a multitude of warriors has risen up against me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, concerning the people that were removed from the sanctuary, by David for a memorial, when the Philistines caught him in Geth. Have mercy upon me, O God; for man has trodden me down; all the day long he warring has afflicted me.

Contemporary English Version
Have pity, God Most High! My enemies chase me all day.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance from the sanctuary for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar ) when the Philistines held him in Geth. Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me.

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A Psalm of David: Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: all the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; according to [yonath elem rechokim]; a [miktam] by David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.] Have pity on me, O God, because people are harassing me. All day long warriors oppress me.

Good News Translation
Be merciful to me, O God, because I am under attack; my enemies persecute me all the time.

International Standard Version
Have mercy on me, God, because men have harassed me. Those who oppress me have fought against me all day long.

JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader; upon Jonath-elem-rehokim. [A Psalm] of David; Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be gracious unto me, O God, for man would swallow me up; All the day he fighting oppresseth me.

Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. [SET] ON “A SILENT DOVE FAR OFF.” A MIKTAM OF DAVID, IN THE PHILISTINES’ TAKING HOLD OF HIM IN GATH. Favor me, O God, for man swallowed me up, | All the day fighting he oppresses me,

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.

New American Bible
For the director. According to Yonath elem rehoqim. A miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him at Gath. [2] Have mercy on me, God, for I am treated harshly; attackers press me all the day.

NET Bible
For the music director; according to the yonath-elem-rechovim style; a prayer of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath. Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me! All day long hostile enemies are tormenting me.

New Revised Standard Version
Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me; all day long foes oppress me;

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Silent Dove in Distant Lands." A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.] Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician upon Jonathelem-rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer. -- 'On the Dumb Dove far off.' -- A secret treasure of David, in the Philistines' taking hold of him in Gath. Favour me, O God, for man swallowed me up, All the day fighting he oppresseth me,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Be Merciful to Me, O God
1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack. 2My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 21:10
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

1 Samuel 21:11
But the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?"

Psalm 17:9
from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

Psalm 35:25
Let them not say in their hearts, "Aha, just what we wanted!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up!"

Psalm 57:3
He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. Selah God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth.

Psalm 119:58
I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise.

Psalm 124:3
when their anger flared against us, then they would have swallowed us alive,


Treasury of Scripture

Be merciful to me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresses me.

A.

Psalm 16:1
Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

Psalm 57:1
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

Psalm 58:1
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

when

1 Samuel 21:11-15
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? …

1 Samuel 29:4
And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?

Be

Psalm 31:9
Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

Psalm 57:1-3
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast…

Psalm 59:10
The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

swallow

Psalm 21:9
Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

Psalm 27:2
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Psalm 35:25
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

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Attacks Chief Choirmaster Daily David Director Distant Dove Far-Off Fighting Gath Gracious Lands Merciful Michtam Miktam Miktamwhen Music Musician Oaks Oppress Oppresses Philistines Poem Psalm Seized Silent Swallow Terebinths Trample Trampled Tune Wants
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Attacks Chief Choirmaster Daily David Director Distant Dove Far-Off Fighting Gath Gracious Lands Merciful Michtam Miktam Miktamwhen Music Musician Oaks Oppress Oppresses Philistines Poem Psalm Seized Silent Swallow Terebinths Trample Trampled Tune Wants
Psalm 56
1. David, praying to God in confidence of his word, complains of his enemies,
9. He professes his confidence in God's word, and promises to praise him














(1) Man . . .--Heb., enosh, either as in Psalm 9:19, "mortal man," or, contemptuously, "a rabble, a multitude."

Verse 1. - Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; literally, man panteth after me - like a wild beast after his prey. The contrast is sharp between "man" (enosh, "weak man") and God (Elohim, "the Mighty One"). He fighting daily oppreseeth me; rather, all the day long is he fighting and oppressing me.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ ׀ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

To the tune of
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

“A Dove
י֬וֹנַת (yō·w·naṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3123: A dove

on Distant
רְ֭חֹקִים (rə·ḥō·qîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7350: Remote, of place, time, precious

Oaks.”
אֵ֣לֶם (’ê·lem)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 482: Silence

A Miktam
מִכְתָּ֑ם (miḵ·tām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4387: A technical term in psalm titles

of David,
לְדָוִ֣ד (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

when the Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

seized
בֶּֽאֱחֹ֨ז (be·’ĕ·ḥōz)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 270: To grasp, take hold, take possession

him in Gath.
בְּגַֽת׃ (bə·ḡaṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1661: Gath -- 'wine press', a Philistine city

Be merciful to me,
חָנֵּ֣נִי (ḥān·nê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore

O God,
אֱ֭לֹהִים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

men
אֱנ֑וֹשׁ (’ĕ·nō·wōš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

are hounding me;
שְׁאָפַ֣נִי (šə·’ā·p̄a·nî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7602: To inhale eagerly, to cover, to be angry, to hasten

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

day long
הַ֝יּ֗וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

they press
יִלְחָצֵֽנִי׃ (yil·ḥā·ṣê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 3905: To squeeze, press, oppress

their attack.
לֹחֵ֥ם (lō·ḥêm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle


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OT Poetry: Psalm 56:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 55:23
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